Unusual morning at middle school this week.

I had an odd conversation this week, with a kid in middle school.  Not my own.

And I'm still trying to sort out if I've done the right thing.

Early in the morning, I dropped my kid off at middle school and this day, actually walked my child into to school.

I'm a chatty mom who actually loves kids.  I love watching them interact and I love seeing what they wear to school and all that stuff.  I think it's really fascinating watching kids grow up at this stage, you either love middle schoolers, or dread them.  And I'm definitely someone who loves that age.

In any case, as I was walking back to my car, I passed a boy I knew since elementary school, so I asked  what I thought was a simple question:

I said, "How are you today, 'James Watson'?" (clearly, that's so not his real name.)

To which he answered 100% sincerely (which is why I love this kid. He really is like that.) in front of the other boys hanging around.

"Hello, Mrs. Larsen.
Well, actually I'm not so good today, because now all the kids say I'm gay."

(Actually, this thought crossed my mind a few years ago, which is probably one reason why I liked him so much.)

Unfortunately, or not, I happen to think about things like this way too much anyway.  So of all people for him to share this with, I was, needless to say, an ironic choice.    

My immediate response to this unexpected comment was,

"Oh, well!  Project Runway is one of my favorite shows!"  

And then I whispered, "Besides, there's nothing wrong with being gay." 

He blushed and smiled, but it was slightly awkward.  Especially with the other kids looking on, speechless, during this bizarre moment of TMI on an otherwise ordinary morning.

And, because I'm "a worrier," I worried about my answer to him as I walked away.

I couldn't go back and take back what I said.

But, no doubt, what I should have said was "Nobody has the right to call you names, period. It's called 'harassment' and you should report it."

But, that wasn't what came out my mouth. Unfortunately. And then the bell rang.

So, instead of just going home, I thought about how much I sincerely do love this kid.  He's always been painfully honest with the world since I knew him starting in first grade. (In 6th now.) And I became worried he actually might be getting picked on. Which I can't handle at all.

So I thought I should maybe tell someone about this in case he was getting bullied. 

His mom? Nope.

School guidance counselor, right? Right.

So, I go in and try to explain what happened, which was another awkward moment, but I felt I owed it to the kid to let the school know they're calling him names. 

Having done this I specifically requested they not make him feel embarrassed about the situation.  Just, you know, let him know he shouldn't let other kids call him names.

Fine? Fine. I thought.

Later that day, after school let out, the guidance counselor passed me and I asked if she had a chance to tell the boy that he should speak up for himself.

At first she seemed to have entirely forgotten my telling her anything earlier that day.

Then she said, "Oh, yeah. I asked him about that and he never 'confessed' anything to me."

Pause.

And I'm thinking, "Why would he? You're a dork."

And then I realized why kids don't tell people things like that. 

Because people just don't get it.

(Maybe, including me. )

Somebody please tell me what the right thing to do was, because I'm still worried I might have gotten it wrong.

*sigh*